Daily Civics Brief
Updated Sunday, March 15, 2026
How Federalism Shapes Your Community
Federalism is how power is shared between the national and state governments in the United States. This division of power also affects local governments like cities and counties. Local governments provide important public goods, such as schools, libraries, and parks. They also manage services like trash collection, road maintenance, and local law enforcement. Understanding how federalism works can help you see how decisions are made in your community and how you can get involved.
Civic connection
- Federalism helps balance power between national, state, and local governments.
- Local governments directly provide public goods and services to communities.
Skills practiced
stakeholder mappingcommunity problem-solving
ACE Sim connection
Understanding local government helps you identify key players and work together to address community needs.
map stakeholdersbuild compromise
Discussion question
What public goods or services does your local government provide that are important to you?
Sources
Federalism & Local GovernmentBack to ACE signup